ajb403 Posted September 10, 2010 Report Share Posted September 10, 2010 I've been thinking of buying a jimny for a while, budget of around £2500, which seems to get a low to reasonable mileage '00/'01 model or the odd high mileage '02. As I understand it the jimny went from belt driven to chain driven camshafts in '02 and have read recommendations to get a chain driven camshaft model if possible. Does anybody have any experience running a pre '02 model? Would you recommend going for a lower mileage but older model ('00/'01) with the belt driven camshaft or for a higher mileage '02/'03 model? Interested in people experiences with them. Cheers Ashley Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
al4x Posted September 10, 2010 Report Share Posted September 10, 2010 no experience personally other than I wouldn't let the cam belt put you off, just get it changed when you get it and it shouldn't be a problem. We've had vehicles with chains have them break as well so there are still risks with them. Go more on overall vehicle condition IMHO Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
humperdingle Posted September 10, 2010 Report Share Posted September 10, 2010 I've been thinking of buying a jimny for a while, budget of around £2500, which seems to get a low to reasonable mileage '00/'01 model or the odd high mileage '02. As I understand it the jimny went from belt driven to chain driven camshafts in '02 and have read recommendations to get a chain driven camshaft model if possible. Does anybody have any experience running a pre '02 model? Would you recommend going for a lower mileage but older model ('00/'01) with the belt driven camshaft or for a higher mileage '02/'03 model? Interested in people experiences with them. Cheers Ashley Mine's is an '03 model, so hasn't got the cam belt issue. If you go onto some of the Jimny forums, there are loads of guys who run the older models right back to the Samurais. You should be able to pick up an '03 Jimny at around 40k miles for under £3,000. Great little motors! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrispti Posted September 11, 2010 Report Share Posted September 11, 2010 Mines a 1999 model, Iv had it a few years now, apart from a sticky break light switch, I have not had a single problem with it :look: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
minghis Posted September 13, 2010 Report Share Posted September 13, 2010 I had two of these recently, an 05 plate and an 07 plate. My experience was good, they are super little things. But... I really felt the benefit of the air con in the 07 plate, not so much for the cooling but more for clearing the misted up screen and windows that you tend to get with wet kit in the (rather small) boot. I think the late one had the VVT engine, it certainly went better. You're really close to the glass as they're so small, so I did find misting to be a problem. The other thing was that to bear in mind they are incredibly low geared, you can easily be in 5th gear around town so you can imagine how high it'll be revving on the motorway! I kept the back seats folded down while I had mine as the boot is small but it's a small car so no surprises there. Great off road (just not too fast, they're a bit bouncy..) and have the ability to not get beached in deep ruts as they've got a really narrow track. They ride on top of soft mud and snow without sinking, too. Didn't help with your question about the cambelt but hope the views on the cars are of some help. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy75 Posted September 13, 2010 Report Share Posted September 13, 2010 (edited) Mid 2001 was the change over between belt and chain, and also twin OHC 16v (later), rather than SOHC 16v ( earlier). My early 2002 has the chain, my mates late 51 has the belt! Live axles front and rear, so great muddy articulation. The low gearing is there for off road torque, and coupled with the low-range box gives you oodles of grunt from such a wee 4 pot engine to tackle all-sorts. Edited September 13, 2010 by Andy75 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ajb403 Posted September 13, 2010 Author Report Share Posted September 13, 2010 Much appreciated people, I'll carry on looking for an '02 model then! Cheers Ashley Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
George1990 Posted September 19, 2010 Report Share Posted September 19, 2010 Thought they were elastic band driven? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lez325 Posted September 21, 2010 Report Share Posted September 21, 2010 Elastic bands are used to secure the Hair dryer in early models Les Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrispti Posted September 21, 2010 Report Share Posted September 21, 2010 Thought they were elastic band driven? Elastic bands are used to secure the Hair dryer in early models Les Nope, mine has a key in th back Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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